“Forward to the Goal of Victory”

“Forward to the Goal of Victory”

Stephenites’ Rallying Song

Air: "Marching Thro' Georgia"

Hurrah! hurrah, we’ll raise the ball on high,

Hurrah! hurrah, we’ll win or else know why;

One wild hurrah for Ballina

Ascending to the sky,

Then forward to the goal of victory!

Each Gael stands calm and steady,

As he clasps his brother’s hand, 

Our captain’s ever-ready and well worthy of command,

We’ll take the field and never yield,

And let our motto be—

Forward to the goal of victory.

CHORUS:

We are the hardy sons of toil,

With power, strength and will,

The land we tread—our native soil

Remains unconquered still.

Our colours green that ne’er was seen,

Disgraced, nor ne’er shall be,

So—forward to the goal of victory.

CHORUS:

Stephenites’ Victory Song 

of 1906 

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THIS song/poem was written by Larry Doolan on 15th March, 1906, to commemorate the feats of the Ballina Stephenites’ football team which beat Kerry—the All-Ireland champions in 1906. This is a copy which was held by John Broderick, Hill Street, Ballina. Throughout the poem references are made to the “brave seventeen” which refers to the team which was constituted of seventeen players.   

"Our Brave Seventeen"

(Air:  “The Men of the West”)

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 ALL Kerry is up and preparing 

Her very best men for the field, 

The Stephens,’ far from despairing 

Remember their pledge – “never yield!” 

A cry rings through mountain and valley— 

“Make ready to conquer the foe!” 

Brave men of the Stephens now rally, 

For Connaught depends on Mayo. 

  

CHORUS: 

  

Then here’s to the brave men of Connaught— 

Their colours – the emerald green; 

Who proved that the old blood is not gone yet, 

Hurrah! for our brave seventeen. 

  

They heard the wild cry and then got ready, 

And victory flashed in their eyes; 

The Stephens, cool, clam and steady, 

Would give the old land a surprise. 

For “union is strength,” said O’Connell, 

“Deliver your knockout blow; 

And show that the blood of O’Donnell— 

Still flows through your veins in Mayo.” 

  

CHORUS: 

  

The contest – a fierce one – was glorious! 

The fight is now over and done; 

The West was “awake” and victorious, 

And Limerick field is now won. 

And when in their realms of glory— 

Their ashes will rest neath the green— 

Their children will read of in story— 

The deeds of our brave seventeen! 

  

CHORUS: 

Here’s to the brave men of Connaught— 

Their colours – the emerald green; 

The blood of O’Donnell, signs on it! 

Still flows in our brave seventeen! 

  

(And the “Brave Seventeen”: R. Marsh (capt.), A. Corcoran, D. Ryder, T. Boshell, P. Farmer, O. Sweeney, B. Ferguson, P. Kilduff, P. Heffernan, T. Murray, T. Gilmartin, W. Boshell, T. Wade, M. Crean, P. Sweeney (all Ballina) M. McHugh and J. Munnelly (Castlebar). Served in World War 1: O. Sweeney (K.I.A.); W. Boshell, D. Ryder, M. Crean (lost leg); A. Corcoran (Canadian Army).—(PJC). 

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(Words written when Ballina overcame Waterford

in the 1909 Croke Cup Final) 

  

We’ve won the cup and saucers, boys, 

And now we’ll take the cake; 

That’ll prove beyond a shade of doubt 

The West is wide awake. 

May Corcoran lead on his men to victories galore,

The seventeen bold boys in green, 

The Stephenites once more